Council projects to create new housing and jobs get underway in Leeds

Housing growth programme at Garnet Grove in Beeston with (l-r) LCC executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Cllr Richard Lewis and executive member for communities Cllr Debra Coupar with Steve Howard and Tony Pollard of Kier Construction

Work to create new council housing and job opportunities by bringing two vacant sites back into use is now underway in Leeds.

At Garnet Grove in Beeston and Broadlea Street in Bramley, work has started on creating new council housing as part of Leeds City Council’s housing growth programme.

Apart from providing a total of 49 new homes, the projects will also offer a number of employment and training opportunities including apprenticeships to be advertised locally.

The schemes are the latest to begin through the council’s ambitious programme of new build council housing, working with Kier Construction Limited as the development partner across both sites as well as at a third on the former Whinmoor pub in Swarcliffe where a planning application to provide an additional 22 homes is to be considered shortly.

At Garnet Grove in Beeston, the programme will deliver 19 two-bed and six three-bed properties, while Broadlea Street in Bramley will see 22 two-bed and two three-bed homes created, with work at both sites due be completed before the end of next year.

The new properties at both sites will be built to the Leeds Standard in terms of design and quality, as well as embodying the best in design for sustainability, space and energy efficiency.

The three sites including Swarcliffe form the next phase of the council housing growth programme, which will see around 1,000 new council homes built in the coming years.

Leeds City Council executive member for communities Councillor Debra Coupar said:

“We are delighted to see work starting on these new homes through the housing growth programme, which will provide much-needed affordable rental accommodation.

“We are excited to be working on this new approach on all aspects of the design and build with Kier Construction Limited to offer attractive new energy-efficient homes and look forward to seeing these projects complete.”

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said:

“As part of our commitment to provide a thousand new council homes, these schemes fit with our desire to see brownfield sites redeveloped into attractive new affordable housing meeting the needs of local communities. They also offer potential job and training opportunities which again is important especially for young people in these areas to make the most of.”

On behalf of Kier Construction, operations director Jon Rukin said:

“We’re excited to have started on site at both developments to deliver this much-needed affordable housing. We’re looking forward to working closely with Leeds City Council on its housing growth programme to provide properties that meet the needs of local communities, now and in the future.”